3.3 Cranial Nerves Overview

Question 1

Which cranial nerves arise from the cerebrum?

Answer 1

CN I & CN II

Question 2

Which cranial nerves arise from the midbrain?

Answer 2

CN III and CN IV

Question 3

Which cranial nerve arises from the Pons?

Answer 3

CN V

Question 4

Which cranial nerves arise from the Pontine-medullary junction?

Answer 4

CN VI - VIII

Question 5

Which cranial nerves arise from the medulla oblongata?

Answer 5

CN IX - XII

Question 6

True or false: like spinal nerves, all cranial nerves contain sensory and motor components

Answer 6

• False
• They can contain one, the other, or both

Question 7

What are the three kinds of sensation a cranial nerve can have?

Answer 7

• Somatic (pain, temp, touch)
• Special (smell, vision, taste, hearing, equilibrium)
• Visceral (carotid body/sinus, pharynx, larynx, thoracic/abdominal viscera)

Question 8

What are the two kinds of motor movement a cranial nerve can allow?

Answer 8

• Somatic motor: skeletal muscle
• Visceral (parasympathetic) motor: smooth muscle/glands

Question 9

True or false: cranial nerves function as preganglionic parasympathetic neurons, and as upper motor neurons in motor pathways?

Answer 9

• False
• First is right.
• Second statement is wrong — they function as LMNs

Question 10

Which of motor/sensory nuclei are found in the medial/lateral columns of the brainstem?

Answer 10

Motor more medial, sensory more lateral

Question 11

What are some causes of cranial nerve palsies?

Answer 11

• Infections
• Tumors (compression)
• Increased ICP
• Demyelinating disease
• Microvascular issues